Central Oregon Cascades
A glacial lake at the foot of the Lewis Glacier on the upper slopes of South Sister (Hike 71).
The Central Oregon Cascades are the state’s playground, and no region deserves more entries than this one. From Mount Jefferson to the Three Sisters to Diamond Peak, this is the heart of Oregon’s Cascade range. Here you will find majestic glacier-clad mountains, awe-inspiring ancient forests, stupendous waterfalls, and mile after mile of gorgeous trails. Of all the sections in this book, this one had the most hikes cut from the final list - I could have made an entire book of extraordinary hikes just in the Central Oregon Cascades. Every hiker will find lots to love in this area. The only downside is that many of these hikes are crowded, and some require a limited-entry permit to hike.
Central Oregon Cascades Wilderness Permits:
The Central Oregon Cascades have surged in popularity in recent years, and some places were being loved to death. In response to the resulting environmental problems caused by extremely heavy usage in places such as Jefferson Park (Hikes 51 and 52), Marion Lake (Hike 53), Canyon Creek Meadows (Hike 59), Green Lakes (Hike 70), and the South Sister Summit Trail (Hike 71), the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest have implemented a permit system for some of these hikes.
Here’s how it works:
For any trails in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas, you’ll need to check in the hike descriptions here to see if they need a permit. Some hikes will require a permit for a day hike, while all trailheads in these three wilderness areas will require a permit to backpack. To obtain the permit, go to www.recreation.gov and search for Central Cascades Wilderness Permit, Day Use; choose the trailhead at which you plan to begin your hike, and then choose the day you want to hike this trail. Permits go on sale in the winter, but many are also available ten days in advance of the day you want to hike. If you’re planning a backpacking trip, you’ll need to select an Overnight permit instead for the trailhead at which you plan to start your hike. Don’t leave home without your permit as backcountry rangers patrol these three wilderness areas and will warn or even cite you for not having the required permit.
51. Park Ridge and Jefferson Park
52. Jefferson Park via South Breitenbush
53. Marion Lake
54. Coffin and Bachelor Mountains
55. House Rock
56. Middle Santiam Wilderness
57. Iron Mountain
58. West Browder Ridge
59. Canyon Creek Meadows
60. Black Butte
61. Metolius River
62. Clear Lake and the McKenzie River
63. Proxy and Linton Falls
64. Benson Lake
65. Matthieu Lakes
66. Demaris and Camp Lakes
68. Tumalo Falls Loop
69. Sparks Lake
70. Green Lakes
71. South Sister
72. Shale Ridge
73. Bohemia Mountain
74. Salt Creek and Diamond Creek Falls
75. Diamond View Lake